Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Israel approves release of 250 Palestinian prisoners
| International
|
My Profile
Holiday Gift Guide
Gift ideas & reviews for this holiday season
Start Browsing
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
You Witness
The Great Debate
Blogs
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
You Witness News
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Israel approves release of 250 Palestinian prisoners
Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:37am EST
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel approved on Sunday the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners in a bid to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle with Hamas Islamists who control the Gaza Strip.
The prisoners, a fraction of the 11,000 Palestinians held by Israel, will be released in the occupied West Bank, where Abbas's government holds sway, before next week's Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, officials said of the decision, which was approved by Israel's cabinet.
Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had promised to free the prisoners during a meeting earlier this month with Abbas, who launched peace talks with Israel a year ago after Gaza's violent takeover by Hamas.
"This is a confidence-building measure," said Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev.
He said Israel will release prisoners from the ranks of Abbas's secular Fatah faction and other non-Islamist groups.
Such releases are highly emotive for Palestinians, who regard prisoners as symbols of resistance to Israeli occupation.
"This is a national priority for every Palestinian household," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said, welcoming the cabinet decision.
He said Israel has yet to tell the Palestinians whether it would consider freeing high profile Fatah inmates such as uprising leader Marwan Barghouthi, who is seen as a possible successor to Abbas as president.
Israeli cabinet minister Gideon Ezra said the goal in releasing prisoners was to help Abbas "earn the cooperation of the population" without undermining Israeli security.
"Abu Mazen (Abbas), in the past few months, has made efforts that we've never seen before, including trying to stop terrorism," Ezra said, referring to arrests made by Abbas's forces. "It's our commitment to do everything possible ... to make it easier for him."
Nearly 200 prisoners were freed by Israel in August.
U.S.-sponsored peace talks between Olmert and Abbas, rejected by Hamas, have shown little sign of progress.
(Writing by Adam Entous; Editing by Dominic Evans)
© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
My Web
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Romanians vote in shadow of financial crisis
You Witness News
Mumbai Attacks
Did you witness the attacks? We are inviting citizen photojournalists to send in their best images. If you think your picture captures the moment, please send it to pics@reuters.com. Full Coverage
Editor's Choice
Pictures
Video
Articles
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Human robots
Showbiz Week
Tech Week
Lifestyle: Laos still paying price of Vietnam war
Business: Indonesian tribe immune to global crisis
Technology: Blogs feed info frenzy on Mumbai
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
Recommended
Bill Clinton agrees to release donor's names
Indian security chief resigns over Mumbai attacks | Video
Research on mice links fast food to Alzheimer's
Testing for cancer at home
Holiday sales get off to slow start | Video
Thai police order airport protesters to disperse | Video
Asian economies stumble
Poverty spreading in suburbs: study
UPDATE 1-Citigroup to sell Japan NikkoCiti trust unit-media
Dutch ban on "magic" mushrooms to take effect
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
High prices feed fury in Ankara
Mumbai police declare siege over
Airport protesters defy Thai police
U.S. help as India boosts security
Opec discusses falling oil price
Police shoot dead Carrefour attacker
Kidman's plea to end female violence
New York mourns rabbi killed
Talk of the Town: Spears feels old
Investigation after Airbus crash
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
Attacks in Mumbai
Witness: Night of fear
Phil Smith, South Asia Editor for Reuters, describes his experience covering the attacks in Mumbai. Full Article
Who's responsible?
Who could be behind the Mumbai attacks and why? Full Article
Vulnerability revealed
Whatever group is responsible, experts say one thing is clear: a city can be reduced to mayhem if a group is well-enough armed and prepared to die. Full Article
Islamabad to Mumbai
Reuters' Simon Cameron-Moore reflects on the vulnerability of India's porous cities. Blog
Slideshow
Deadly attacks
Score of people were killed in a series of attacks apparently aimed at tourists in India's financial capital. Slideshow
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Sunday, 30 November 2008 Minister Mentor Lee has minor surgery
Aide: India's home minister offers resignation
Taliban frees 2 kidnapped Afghan journalists
51 protesters wounded in Thailand explosions
China holds horse betting trial run
Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore hospital, discharge Monday
Kabul suicide attack on German convoy kills two
Israel approves release of 250 Palestinian prisoners
Somali pirates say deal reached for Ukrainian ship release
Iraq, Iran swap bodies of 1980-88 war dead
New Gaza clashes as Israel keeps borders sealed
Kabul suicide blast kills two
Iran proposes nuclear plants with Arab countries
Iraqi forces search for suspects in UN rocket attack
Suicide bomber hits German embassy vehicle in Kabul
| International
|
Somali pirates strike deal on Ukraine ship
| International
|
Tiong Bahru bird corner near Link Hotel reopens
China's rural migrants are new front in AIDS fight
| International
|
Iceland whale meat to arrive in Japan: report
Jiangsu Party Secretary Liang Baohua calls on PM Lee
China to grow 10 percent in 2009 despite global crisis: government economist
Israel approves release of 250 Palestinian prisoners
| International
|
MOH expects total number of HIV cases in 2008 to exceed 2007 figure
Terror attack victim’s body flown back to Singapore
Romanians vote in shadow of financial crisis
| International
|
Golfing Internationals win Lexus Cup in Sorenstam swansong
Aviation shifts into new era with opening of S’pore—KL route
Golf: Team International beat Team Asia to win Lexus Cup
Microsoft and Yahoo in talks again on online unit: report
| Technology
|
Everybody must get stoned? Swiss vote on cannabis laws
Sydney Opera House darkens in mourning
China pledges to fight AIDS discrimination
Mumbai cop, left for dead, rides with gunmen
Sri Lankan helicopters bomb rebels
Mumbai attack survivor says panic caused more lives to be lost
No joy for Lin, Xie at Hong Open badminton finals
8 Muslims arrested for damaging Dhaka sculpture
Riots leave 13 dead in Pakistan's port city of Karachi
Stranded pilgrims leave Bangkok airport for hajj
Horse Racing: El Dorado wins S$1.35m Singapore Gold Cup
Police: 8 killed in clashes in northwest Pakistan
Lim Chu Kang Road converted into alternate runway
NKorea says Kim Jong Il inspected air force unit
Swiss stub out cannabis decriminalisation bid
Kim inspects air force unit: NKorean media
Journalists caught in crackdown by Myanmar junta
Sri Lankan helicopters bomb rebels in north
S Lanka's cricketers grind out final Zimbabwe win
Bloggers provide raw view of Mumbai attacks
Over 400 Singaporeans leave Thailand via U—Tapao Airport
Moroccans give fresh twist to kaftan
More babies receive pneumococcal disease vaccinations
Costa Rican president to visit Singapore
Police: Pakistani militants behind Mumbai attacks
Police: Pakistani militants behind Mumbai attacks
Breadwinners blighted by legacy of decades-old war in Laos
End of the road for some foreigners in the UAE: report
Thai political crisis heightens with new rallies
`Four Christmases' finds $31.7M in holiday cheer
Prof Tan Chorh Chuan is new NUS President
Thai political crisis heightens with new rallies
China dismisses EU criticism of 'spy' execution: state media
Mumbai survivor: 'There was blood everywhere'
Guns n' Roses just miss out on top spot in British charts
'Four Christmases' tops holiday movie box office charts
Specter: 'I'll be prepared' for 2010 race
Japan's Oda, Asada take NHK Trophy
NPR journalists' car bombed in Baghdad
Somali piracy stirs fear among Russian sailors
23 dead in Afghan clashes, Kabul suicide attack
Indian security chief resigns over Mumbai attacks
| International
|
UN chief 'backs EU force for DR Congo'
Anthrax poses new threat in cholera-hit Zimbabwe: charity
Congo's war-baby gorillas bring hope for endangered species
Jobs scarce abroad, but South Africans move away
| International
|
WTO: Lamy awaiting fresh texts ahead of any summit decision
Ethnic rifts pin Bosnia's sick convicts in jail
| International
|
NASA to attempt California touchdown after two failed Florida bids
Poland adopts 24-bln-euro economic aid package
Iraq and Iran resume swaps of 1980s war dead
| International
|
Obama set to name Clinton as top diplomat Monday
Swiss stub out cannabis decriminalisation bid
Somalia arrests 5 for kidnapping Western journalists
| International
|
Mumbai probe focuses on Pakistan-based militants
Korea Zinc to cut output by 10 pct for 13 months
Temasek in talks to sell Singapore Food stake
Seoul shares open lower; steelmakers retreat
3 Mexicans arrested in Australia-U.S. cocaine bust
Nine headless bodies found in Mexican border town
| International
|
South Korean export growth seen halving in 2009
Venezuela's Chavez pushes for more time in office
| International
|
Chavez seeks reelection, eyes presidency through 2021
Four Christmases gives box office a holiday gift
| Entertainment
|
Sean Penn offers warm Milk to movie fans
| Entertainment
|
Slumdog, Hunger sweep British film awards
| Entertainment
|
Swiss voters back prescription heroin, anti-paedophile law
Cyclist Chris Hoy caught up in Thailand protests
India claims Mumbai gunman tied to Pakistani group
Poll: Support for Japan PM plunges
China rejects EU criticism of Taiwan spy execution
ING taps Temasek exec as Asia financials head
Madonna, Alex Rodriguez in Mexico City
Bush sends Rice to India
NKorea starts imposing tight curbs at SKorea border
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights